2001 s60 2.4t exhaust cam problem with timing

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 29 Dec 2015, 16:58

I have a 2001 S60 2.4T
I had to replace seals on cams front and back, installing new timing belt, got all marks lined up correctly, vvt at limit everything lined up...
Once I set everything with cam tool locked, I then remove cam tool so I can turn crank CW 2 rotations to check all marks line up after doing so. Alls good, all marks line up on the cam pulleys and the crank.
This is where my question comes in, I look at the back of the cams and the rear exhaust cam is not horizontal with the intake, why and how did it move? It's turned approximately 1/4 inch, but front marks are all aligned... Started the car slight miss in idle, revs up good, timing is not right. Ran perfect before. When I originally took it apart the rear cams were both not aligned horizontally, so I can't figure this out, please anyone help!

Post by **bskeels** » 29 Dec 2015, 23:52

The vvt has to be set, the procedure can be found on this site. First lock the camshafts with the tool, locking the exhaust first and turning down to lock in the intake. In general you have to loosen both the inner t55 bolt on the camshaft and also loosen the 3 bolts holding the timing pulley and tighten to a finger tight condition, rotate the timing gear to the most clockwise position on the vvt unit then rotate the hole assembly (keeping the gear tight to its limit) to 1 cog before the timing mark on the cover. Then tighten the t55 bolt. Then put the belt on, making sure that the cog gear is not at the limit, (should move about a tooth or so), then adjust the tensioner pulley, and then tighten the 3 timing gear bolts. This procedure has to be down if the vvt is removed from the cam.

Post by **shiloh51933** » 30 Dec 2015, 06:29

sandiegovolvo wrote:I have a 2001 S60 2.4T
I had to replace seals on cams front and back, installing new timing belt, got all marks lined up correctly, vvt at limit everything lined up...
Once I set everything with cam tool locked, I then remove cam tool so I can turn crank CW 2 rotations to check all marks line up after doing so. Alls good, all marks line up on the cam pulleys and the crank.
This is where my question comes in, I look at the back of the cams and the rear exhaust cam is not horizontal with the intake, why and how did it move? It's turned approximately 1/4 inch, but front marks are all aligned... Started the car slight miss in idle, revs up good, timing is not right. Ran perfect before. When I originally took it apart the rear cams were both not aligned horizontally, so I can't figure this out, please anyone help!

It might be slightly off from the 3 & 9 o'clock locations, I just had an issue with this. Somebody removed exhaust cam VVT sprocket without locking cams, I had to redo everything only to find out that 3 coil packs went somehow between last start to tbelt removal. I thought I was setting VVT sprocket wrong but it was the coil packs. I'm just saying to check ignition if u are sure you did everything right.

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 30 Dec 2015, 13:05

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions, Im gonna get to work on it right now I will post back here later today.

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 30 Dec 2015, 16:43

OK, just got done resetting timing again, everything was lined up correct took locking tool off cams and turned motor twice, all marks lined up on front but again the rear exhaust cam was not horizontal with intake cam, intake cam is set as should be but the exhaust cam either retards or advances (not sure which direction is which) about 1/8 of a turn. I backed it up CCW turn again same thing at rear of cams, I then manually twist exhaust cam back into place(with timing belt on) and again turn crank twice same thing , cams not horizontal, started the car still runs like timing is off. I then did a compression test to be sure I didn't bend any valves in the process of messing with timing, here's my numbers cyl #1-155 cyl #2-151 cyl #3-150 cyl #4-155 cyl #5-155 seems that alls good, I did some some wet plugs in 4 and 5 cyl, so Im gonna switch coil packs around and see if plugs dry out. I will post back tomorrow Im getting to old for this stuff!

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 30 Dec 2015, 16:46

just to add car was running perfect before started this repair, and when I checked the rear cams when I originally took it apart the exhaust cam was not horizontal with intake cam, after setting timing it goes back where it was and is now.

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 31 Dec 2015, 14:32

somebody suggested I get a new vvt hub since my cam keeps moving once locking tool removed nd crank turned. I don't understand how a vvt hub can go from running perfect to my situation now? should I move the vvt hub to a different position on cam again to see if the resistance is different, less? should I set the timing where when the cam moves it moves to the horizontal mark after turning?? I know that's not the answer I just don't see how setting up timing can be so difficult to diagnose, I did the procedure exactly as others stated, I watched some helpful videos... Do I need to erase codes, should I just drive the car and hope the miss and loss of power go away by computer readjusting itself?

sparky65 · Post by **sparky65** » 31 Dec 2015, 18:25

If your #4 and #5 plugs are wet (I'm assuming with fuel) you probably have an ignition related problem. I wouldn't recommend just arbitrarily tweaking the cam timing around, that's asking for expensive trouble. Your compression numbers look good so I'd say that the cam timing is where it needs to be. Yes, when you hand turn the engine, the slot on the cam with VVT will non necessarily wind up exactly horizontal. The VVT will let the cam timing float since there is no oil pressure being ported to it. When the engine is running, the ECM, solenoid valve and oil pressure will take care of all of that. Back to my thoughts on ignition. Do you have fairly new coil packs in it or are they the old originals? I've had a coil on mine die because I looked at it funny. If you have a hard misfire, you can find it by running the engine and carefully unplugging one coil at a time. No change when unplugged=you found a bad one.

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 31 Dec 2015, 19:22

sparky65 you seem to have a good grasp on this issue, unfortunetly I was trying to find a solution and went quickly with the idea #4 & #5 wet so must be coils.. well after thinking about it I realized there gonna be wet cause disconnected ign wires while testing compression! So back to the drawing board, somethings not right, gonna pull plugs again after running and see whats up, Ill also check the intensity of spark on a spark plug light tester thingy I got,(used it to test spark on boat motor). I was gonna head to the junkyard after testing coils and see what the vvt hubs feel like when I twist them on other Volvos with spring loaded hubs, mine feels pretty tough to turn, maybe that's why exhaust cam seems to go from being horizontal once I test turn the crank? Maybe get a used vvt and see what happens, Im at a loss really appreciate the input so far, and if theres any others please chime in.

sandiegovolvo · Post by **sandiegovolvo** » 31 Dec 2015, 19:36

Yea Shiloh51933 I read your whole issue you had with your father in law, that's entertainment here, thanks.